Is it the state of our roads......or the drivers ?

For many years people have been complaining about the Pacific Highway north to the border. The Bruce highway north from Gympie is also a death trap as statistics show. I drive from Sydney up to Gladstone (Central Qld) three - four times a year to visit my daughter and grandchildren. I even remember the good old days where it took the state 20years to get the Buladelah section finished. Anyway, I have never believed that accidents are caused by the state of the roads - I firmly believe that it is the fault of the drivers. As many of you will have experienced - Idiots overtaking on double yellow lines, other cars speeding past you when you're doing the speed limit of 110Km as if you were standing still. And if you do happen to come to a bad section of road, then drive accordingly. I am by no means an old fogie, actually I find it quite hard to keep my commodore under the speed limit, but the dash lights beep on overspeed occassionaly and I react accordingly. So what do you all think ? Is it the roads or the drivers that lead to so many fatal accidents??

?2012-10-26T05:13:26Z

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HI,

It is my opinion that it is a combination of drivers and roads.

Many drivers stay at the wheel for too long and fatigue - many lack the experience to drive fast on country roads they are unfamiliar on and - they don;t drive to the conditions - weather, other drivers and their own state of mind.

However you have to appreciate that many of our roads have bad corners - they are too sharp or badly cambered and of course it is going to be safer on 4 lane highways.

There are stretches of roads where accidents have happened on straight stretches and that is where the driver factor is to blame -

There is too much impatience and frustration on the roads and many change their personalities when they are behind a wheel.

Large trucks and buses do not help because they block the roads and cause visibilty problems too.

I remember when it used to take 2 hours to get from Sydney to the Blue Mountains or to Gosford - we have some great roads but until we educate our population to drive more responsibly we will continue to have accidents no matter how good the roads are. .

Maybe more TV ads like the "little finger" adds that shame the hoons might help ...maybe.

regards Mike D

261012

Anonymous2012-10-26T03:54:03Z

I think in general it's the drivers - so many have the wrong attitude - but there is something about that stretch of the Pacific Highway, it's been an accident blackspot for at least the last 40 years.

I had a bad accident many years ago here in Victoria - our caravan ended up upside down but still attached to the car, after swinging around and banging both sides of the car. That was put down to an incorrectly laid road with the camber encouraging swaying in trucks and vans and following my accident the whole section was re-laid.

Anonymous2012-10-26T03:22:03Z

The roads are a darn sight better than ever before as are the cars...

Personally , I reckon poor driving decisions are the major cause .